The Let’s French... Festival opens on Thursday 16 June at the Mercantile with a performance by Stranded Horse - the musical project of Yann Tambour, a French troubadour who brings a dreamlike quality to his acoustic melodies and vocals.
Never before has anyone taken the kora (a 21-string bridge harp with its origins in West Africa) and created such stylish and effortlessly cool harmonies with it, even if much of the result remains a mystery. This solo musical project emphasises the impact that African culture has on French music, and contributions by Ballaké Cissoko to Humbling Tides (Stranded Horse’s latest album) re-affirm the close bonds between the two cultures. His sensitive voice brings an enjoyable, if inessential, diversion from the traditional sound and it will surely remind you of Sufjan Stevens’s 2004 album Seven Swans.
This evening at the Mercantile will take you to a unique universe - a true escape from everyday life!